Who is Charity Bank?

Charity Bank is the loans and savings bank for people who want to make the world a better place. We use our savers’ money to make much needed loans to charities and social enterprises working to create lasting social change across the UK.

Our loans provide accommodation for vulnerable refugees, create safe houses for women whose lives have been threatened by domestic violence, and build residential and respite care centres for young adults with profound disabilities. Our co-workers are inspired by the organisations that we support and highly motivated to better equip these charities and social enterprises to help the disadvantaged, enrich lives and make our communities better places to live.

No matter what your role is at Charity Bank, you will be making an essential contribution to the positive social value creation that is the very reason for Charity Bank’s existence. For every loan that we make and the impact that this has on the organisations we lend to and the people that they serve, we can all say, “Wow, look what we helped to create!”

If your values align with Charity Bank’s, the role matches what you are looking for, and our mission and work excites you – we invite you to apply to join us!

Our Values: Mutual Respect, Working in Harmony, Being the Change

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Charity Bank, we want our team to reflect the diverse communities, organisations, and people that we work with.  We are committed to being an inclusive employer and great place to work and we strongly encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.  We have implemented policies to support this aim and are proud to offer flexible working practices and a caring culture.

If you need any reasonable adjustments for any part of the recruitment process and/or working environment, please let us know, in confidence, so we can discuss these with you.

Charity Bank Recruitment Process

At Charity Bank, we prioritise inclusion and fairness in our recruitment process. Our use of recruitment software helps mitigate unconscious bias by incorporating skill-based questions alongside CVs. Responses and CVs are anonymised and reviewed in random order by our hiring team to ensure an equal chance for all candidates, regardless of background. Demographic questions are strictly for statistical purposes, ensuring a balanced candidate pool. Opting out of these questions is an option.

We review all applications within two weeks after the closing date, so expect feedback shortly thereafter. If you require reasonable adjustments during the application process, please email us at recruitment@charitybank.org.

Four-Day Week with Full-Time Pay 

Charity Bank's Four-Day Week initiative, open to all employees from day one, champions work-life balance by providing four days of work with full-time pay. This innovative approach underscores productivity, equal compensation, and the creation of an inclusive workplace in line with Charity Bank's social mission. The 32-hour workweek typically spans four eight-hour days, offering flexibility to typically choose Friday or Monday as the day off. Days off are protected and treated like weekends, ensuring uninterrupted personal time. The arrangement is flexible, adapting to part-time employees on a pro rata basis. 

JOB PROFILE                                                                                        

Job Title:                    Head of Portfolio Management Unit          

Contract:                    Full-time or part-time considered

Location:                    Flexible, with weekly travel to the Tonbridge office

Responsible to:         Director of Business Development & Borrower Experience

Direct Reports:          Yes (2 x FTE)

Date:                           November 2024

_____________________________________________________________

Overall Purpose of the Role:

The Head of Portfolio Management Unit (PMU) provides leadership to our team of experienced portfolio relationship managers and works closely with the Director of Business Development & Borrower Experience on projects to improve the borrower experience across Charity Banks’ lending function.

The Head of Portfolio Management Unit (PMU is responsible for the day-to-day management of the PMU and leads the delivery of the team’s key activities: defending risk through ensuring the timeliness and accuracy of Annual Credit reviews and customer MI gathering routines, the proactive review and reporting of any early warning indicators identified, supporting general account administration, compliance with all relevant internal and external policy frameworks, are consistent with the Bank’s mission and values, and support its business plan objectives.  The team also plays a key role in maintaining high strong relationships with clients, identifying opportunities for portfolio growth and development through on-lending.

Key Accountabilities:

• Lead, manage and mentor the performance and development of the PMU team, providing support, coaching and guidance.

• Responsibility of allocated accounts transferred to the PMU, to include:

  • production of annual reviews.

  • collection and review of management information; and

  • day to day account management tasks including revaluations, statement and redemption requests

  • AML and KYC when there are signatory changes to the customer Account operating Mandate.

• Approve annual reviews prepared by members of the PMU, Impact Lending and Social Investment Solutions, that fall within delegated authority.

• Ensure that own allocated loan portfolio, typically for debt more than £1m, is reviewed annually to include analysis of latest financial data and the provision of comment on any changes since last application or review.  Prepare a progress report with reassessment of risk and revised forecasts for submission to the Credit Department.

• Ensure that the PMU email in-box is checked and managed daily.

• Work with the Credit and Lending Services Teams to ensure that revaluations are obtained as required by the Bank’s Credit Risk Policy.

• To ensure that all borrowers managed by the PMU are contacted at least annually for the purpose of generating further business either directly or as a result of referrals.

• Responsibility for chasing outstanding management information and conditions subsequent for all borrowers.

• Provide support to the Director of Business Development & Borrower Experience, Director of Impact Lending and/or Head of Social Investment Solutions in the review of documentation, development of policies and procedures for lending initiatives such as: Access or RRLF2.

• Other ad-hoc duties as required by the Director of Lending.

Key Contacts

·       Internally – Director of Business Development & Borrower Experience, Director of Impact Lending, Director of Credit, Marketing & Communications Director, members of Impact Lending, Social Investment Solutions teams, Credit and Lending Services teams.

·       Externally – Public Sector Bodies, Grant Makers, Umbrella organisations, other lenders, Accountants, Support Services and Charity Bank Customers.

 Other Requirements:

·       There may be a need to work longer hours to meet deadlines when necessary.

 PERSON PROFILE

Experience

Essential

·       A minimum of 10 years banking experience in a retail financial services environment (e.g. small bank, building society, large credit union or community bank).

·       Proven record in senior management and achieving high levels of performance through influencing and motivating others.

·       An understanding of unsecured lending

Desirable

·       Understanding of the needs of and issues facing the third sector

·       Understanding of banking operational processes

Attainments

 Essential

·       Graduate calibre

 Desirable

·       Degree

Special Aptitudes

 Essential

·       An agile/growth mindset and posture towards continuous improvement and client experience

·       ability to deliver results and outcomes

·       Attention to detail

·       Ability to interpret budgets 

·       Analytical skills including review of annual reports and accounts

·       Knowledge of company law and accounting policies and standards

·       Knowledge of government funding

·       Knowledge of the social and charity sector

·       Strong management skills: able to deliver against plans by leading, empowering and developing the capability of others

·       Ability to initiate and manage change

·       Display sound judgement and political awareness

·       Able to manage competing priorities and balance stakeholder interests alongside them

Desirable

·       Media-trained

·       Good networking skills

Disposition

 Essential

·       Empathetic; remains calm in the face of other people’s emotions

·       Computer literate and IT aware

·       Excellent presentational skills and effective verbal/written communication skills

·       Support the principles of equality of opportunity, showing respect for diversity and difference.

·       Enthusiasm to promote the mission and values of Charity Bank    

Desirable

·       Resourceful and self-starter

Thinking Style

 Essential

·       A high degree of personal integrity, engenders trust and authority with staff, peers and stakeholders

·       Flexible in style and approach, able to adapt to new situations and/or changing priorities requiring new skills

·       Pragmatic and practical and leads by example

·       Tenacious and solutions-focused

Desirable

·       Able to take a strategic view

Circumstances

·       Some unsociable working hours/overnight stays